BUDDHIST THEORY: Triple Gem - Introduction

When going beyond an initial interest and ‘becoming’ a Buddhist, it is usual for one to take refuge in the triple gem. The ‘triple gem’ referred to in many Buddhist texts, as well as in Buddhist practice and theory, refers to The Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha.

The Buddha referred to has a variety of nomenclatures, inclusive of Gautama (Gotama), Shakyamuni, & Siddhartha. Formerly a Prince, the ‘current’ Buddha left a comfortable lifestyle and loving family to find answers to questions he encountered. After several years of asceticism, he sat determinedly to meditate below a bodhi tree and decided not to budge until the answers he sought had been located. Having found his answers and become enlightened, he spent a period contemplating whether or not to spread his findings, wondering if others would/could understand his learnings. Eventually deciding to relocate former friends, he spoke his message and began over 40 years of teaching, approximately 2500 years ago. There have reportedly been former Buddhas, and more are expected. Sources do not agree on the where, when, how, etc of former and future Buddhas.

The Dharma generally refers to the truth The Buddha found. A natural reality and inner wisdom he discovered the existence of, and pathway to. Some schools of Buddhism practice the teaching of Dharma in text form, whilst others prefer to offer a little text and much personal experience and practice, generally meditation based, enabling one to attain discovery through experience. Some forms of Buddhism tie themselves closely to the words of the actual Buddha, whereas others go with commentaries on his words, or practices to help us discover the same knowledge and understanding within ourselves. All these varying located truths can be referred to as Dharma. When one locates it, one is expected to use what one has learned, to live from.

The Sangha can mean either only monastic practitioners, only those who have personally experienced enlightenment, or include all those truly striving to study, learn, locate, and practice the Dharma. In some circles only Monks and Nuns will be acknowledged as the true Sangha, however, with the spread of Buddhism into the Western world, more practitioners remain lay-people. It is now quite common to call lay-practitioners Sangha, providing a ‘family’ of fellow Buddhist practitioners with which to share progression and understandings.